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Engaging a Hazchem industry consultant

People conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) can engage external consultants for health and safety advice (PDF, 0.34 MB) .

Consultants may specialise in a number of areas, so be sure to select one that is best suited to your health and safety needs. Engaging a consultant for help and advice does not guarantee that a PCBU has satisfied their legal duties under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011. A consultant may also have legal duties under the Act as a PCBU for the services provided.

Legal duties and responsibilities cannot be transferred or delegated to a consultant. If a PCBU is found to be in breach of their duties, it may not be a defence to have relied on the advice or recommendations of a consultant. For these reasons, it is important for PCBUs who engage others for health and safety advice to remain actively involved in work health and safety matters, including monitoring and reviewing risk controls.

Providers of professional services in the field of the safe storage and handling of hazardous chemicals need to be competent for the service provided such as designing a storage and handling system, removing an abandoned underground fuel tank, or authoring a safety data sheet. The WHS Regulation includes a definition of a competent person as a person who has acquired through training, qualifications or experience the knowledge and skills to carry out the task. WHS laws do not specify the specific qualifications and experience for this sector. Those engaging consultants must satisfy themselves that the provider has the necessary qualifications and experience for the task to be undertaken. When professional engineering services are required (i.e. beyond application of prescriptive standards), they are to be performed by, or under the supervision/sign off of, a Registered Practicing Engineer Queensland (RPEQ) with appropriate expertise in the relevant discipline.

Categories of Hazchem industry consultant services:

Consultants who provide expertise and services in this area may be able to assist with major hazard facilities safety cases, form 536 (formerly form 69) submissions, safety management system development, emergency plan development and all areas of hazard and risk assessment including, but not limited to HAZAN, HAZID, HAZOP, FMEA, QRA, LOPA, Bow Ties, fire safety assessment, chemical release consequence assessment and other services.

Consultants who have advised they provide some, if not all of the above services are:

Consultants who provide expertise and services in this area may be able to assist with State Planning Development Provisions (SDAP) 3.0, chemical release consequence assessment, Preliminary Hazard Analyses (PHAs), Quantitative Risk Assessments (QRAs) and other services.

Consultants who have advised they provide some, if not all of the above services are:

Storage and handling system consultants can assist PCBUs by providing design, construction and commissioning services for hazardous chemical storage and handling systems or compliance and auditing services for existing storage and handling systems (e.g. engineering advice and/or advice on compliance with Australian standards such as AS1940, AS1596, AS3780 etc.). These services may form part of an overall risk management strategy for a PCBU to safely manage hazardous chemical risks.

Aboveground storage and handling systems/facilities – design and installation

For example, fuel depots, tank farms, aerodromes, marinas, package stores and warehouses.

Consultants who have advised they provide some, if not all of the above services are:

Aboveground storage and handling systems – inspection, maintenance and testing

For example, tank, pipework and asset integrity testing as well as tank decommissioning and removal.

Consultants who have advised they provide some, if not all of the above services are:

Underground storage and handling systems – design and installation

For example, industrial facilities, fuel depots and retailers such as service stations and marinas.

Consultants who have advised they provide some, if not all of the above services are:

Underground storage and handling systems – inspection, maintenance, testing and removal

For example, fuel retailers (e.g. service stations and marinas), Statistical Inventory Analysis (SIA) services, automatic tank gauging, tank, pipework and asset integrity testing and underground tank decommissioning and removal.

Consultants who have advised they provide some, if not all of the above services are:

Consultants who provide expertise and services in this area can assist manufacturers and importers of hazardous chemicals with classification of hazardous chemicals under the 'Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals' (GHS), classification of Dangerous Goods under the ADG Code, preparing SDSs, labelling and placarding, advice about container suitability and related services.

Consultants who have advised they provide some, if not all of the above services are:

Consultants who provide expertise and services in this area can assist with due diligence training for directors of hazchem facilities, chemical handling and awareness training for staff, chemical accreditation for agriculture and pest management industries and emergency response training.

Consultants who have advised they provide some, if not all of the above services are:

Consultants who provide expertise and services in this area can assist with HAZMAT and emergency planning (e.g. gas leaks, fires, disasters), spill response and clean up including hazardous waste management/removal, short term or temporary storage facilities and other services.

Consultants who have advised they provide some, if not all of the above services are:

Consultants who provide expertise and services in this area can assist with inspection of hazardous area electrical installations (accredited auditor services prior to connection/reconnection), classification of hazardous areas, design and installation of electrical equipment in hazardous areas, maintenance and routine inspection of hazardous area electrical installations and other services.

Note: The Electrical Safety Office maintains a list of hazardous area installation accredited auditors.

Consultants who have advised they provide some, if not all of the above services are:

Please refer to the Australasian Institute of Occupational Hygienists (AIOH) to find an accredited occupational hygienist.

  • Hazchem industry consultants

    View the contact details of industry consultants, training providers, and equipment suppliers in an alphabetical listing.

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Last updated 1 August 2024